Collapsible reusable bulk shipping container



y 1969 J. B. KUPERSMIT 3,443,737

COLLAPSIBLE REUSABLE BULK SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 30, 1967 Sheet of 2 May 13, 1969 J. B. KUPERSMIT COLLAPSIBLE REUSABLE BULK SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 30, 1967 United States Patent 3,443,737 COLLAPSIBLE REUSABLE BULK SHIPPING CONTAINER Julius B. Kupersmit, 299 W. 12th St., New York, N.Y. 10014 Filed Oct. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 678,785 Int. Cl. B65d 13/00, /00, 5/36 U.S. Cl. 229-23 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible reusable bulk shipping container of light weight type, particularly useful for air freight shipments, including a relatively rigid pallet element, a collapsible side wall element permanently connected along one edge thereof to said pallet element, and selectively interconnectable along the ramaining edges thereof, and a lid element selectively engageable with an erected wall element, said lid element forming storage means for the wall element and pallet element when the device is in collapsed condition.

This invention relates generally to the field of collapsible reusable shipping containers of a type widely used for bulk freight shipments, and more particularly to an improved form thereof possessing unusual strength in erected condition as well as low empty weight.

Devices of the above type are known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructional details which permit increased utility, low cost of manufacture, ease of assembly and high degree of reutilization.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a reusable bulk shipping container including a relatively rigid pallet element to which there is attached a collapsible wall element and selectively engageable cover element, the cover element forming a recess in which the pallet and wall elements are at least partially storable, when the device is in collapsed or non-assembled condition.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved collapsible reusable shipping container of the class described, which may be conveniently assembled using only simple tools, and without resort to special skills.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved collapsible shipping container of the class described in which elements other than the pallet element are formed of fibrous material, and which may yet withstand relatively heavy loads occurring when the device is placed in stacked relation with other similar containers.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved collapsible shipping container of the class described, incorporating the above advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, consistent with or below that of existing prior art devices, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the fact that it may be loaded either from the top or the side, owing to the presence of a slidable door member forming a part of the collapsible wall element.

Another feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the provision of novel means interconnecting a collapsible wall element with a cover element thereof, in such manner as to resist the tendency of the wall element to collapse under load.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention, showing the structure in collapsed and stored condition.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view in perspective showing a first stage in the erection of the embodiment.

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective showing a further stage in assembly.

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective of the embodiment showing the same in fully assembled and closed condition.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view in perspective showing interengaging means for maintaining the cover element in position upon an erected wall element.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 66 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 7-7 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 88 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view as seen from the plane -9-9 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary plan view as seen from the plane 1010 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary plan view as seen from the plane 10-10 in FIGURE 2.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a relatively rigid pallet element 11, a collapsible wall element 12, foldably interconnected therewith, and a cover element 13, selectively interconnectable with an erected wall element 12.

The pallet element 11 is preferably constructed from wood, metal or other material possessing considerable mechanical strength, and includes a pallet floor member 17 bounded by an upper surface 18, a lower surface 19, side edges, one of which is indicated by reference character 20, and end edges, one of which is indicated by reference character 21. Interconnected by vertically arranged support members 22 are a plurality of skid members 23, 24 and 25 defining interstices beneath the floor member 17 for the engagement of a fork lift truck (not shown) or other lifting mechanism.

Mounted on the upper surface 18 of the floor member 17 is a peripheral mounting member 26 placed in indented relation with respect to the edges 20-21. The member 26 is preferably made of wood, and includes a pair of end portions 27 and 28, and side portions 29 and 30, the portions 27-30 being glued, or otherwise secured to the upper surface 18. Each of the portions 27-30 includes a plurality of laterally arranged mounting holes 31 including a countersunk portion 32. Disposed beneath the side portion 29 is a sill member 33 including a horizontal flange 34 and a vertical flange 35.

The wall element 12 is formed from a continuous length of heavy duty corrugated board, and is bounded by a lower edge 40, an upper edge 41, and end edges 42 and 43. Fold edges 44, 45, 46 and 47 delineate a pair of front panels 48 and 49, a pair of side panels 50 and 51, and a rear panel 52. Along the lower edge 40 are a plurality of transverse holes 53 penetrated by nut and bolt means 54 (FIGURE 3). As will be understood from a comparison of FIGURES 1 and 2, that portion of the lower edge 40 bounding the rear panel 52 is permanently secured to the mounting member 26, while the remaining portions of the edge 40 are selectively interconnected as the device is placed in erected condition.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the edges 42 and 43 are provided with clip members 55 and 56, respectively which may be formed as metallic stampings, each including an outwardly disposed channel 57, 58, engaging a respective edge, and an inwardly disposed channel 59, 60 forming means for engaging a sliding door member 61, which in its lowermost position is engaged by the vertical flange 35, and rests upon the upper surface of the horizontal flange 34.

The cover element 13 is also formed from fibrous material, and includes an upper wall member 63, side walls 64 and 65, as well as end walls 66 and 67, the wall 66 and 67 being provided with overlapping tabs 68 interconnected by staple means 69 to the side walls 64, 65. The end wall 66, 67 are provided with rectangular openings 70 selectively engageable with lid locking means 71, the details of which are disclosed herein, and claimed in a copending application. As best seen in FIGURES and 6, the means 71 includes a loop-forming member 72 mounted on a side panel 50, 51 and a loop engaging member 73. The loop-forming member 72 may be formed as a metallic stamping, to include an inner wall 74, and upper edge wall 75 and an outer wall 76, a portion of which is bent to form an outwardly extending loop portion 77. The inner wall 74 and outer wall 76 are provided with sharpened barbs 78 formed by cutting and bending out from the plane thereof which are adaptable to dig into the inner and outer surfaces of the wall element 12 to effect a secure purchase thereon, as best seen in FIG- URE 6.

The loop engaging member 73 includes a relatively rigid elongated bar 83 slidably engaged within the loop portion 77, and a bendable member 84, welded to the bar 83 at a central portion 85, and including bent portion 87 engageable by a clamp 88 to prevent unauthorized removal.

Assembly of the device from the condition shown in FIGURE 1 is accomplished by removing the elements 11 and 12 from the recess 90 formed by the element 13, and unfolding the element 12 to vertical condition as seen in FIGURE 2. At this point, the side panels 50, 51 and front panels 48, 49 are interconnected by nut and bolt means 54 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9, and the clip members 55 and 56 installed as shown in FIGURE 3. Following this the sliding door member 61 may be installed, and if desired left in an elevated position during the period in which the device is loaded. As it is contemplated, that the dimensions of the device will be of considerable extent, the opening formed by the edges 42 and 43 provides a means of ingress and egress by workmen as the device is loaded.

At the completion of loading, the cover element 13 may then be secured in the manner shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, or, if desired, the loop engaging member 73 may be substituted by other suitable loop engaging means, such as padlock and the like. The device then assumes the appearance shown in FIGURE 4.

After loading, a plurality of devices 10 may be placed in stacked relation in well known manner, the engagement of the lid locking means 71 forcing the side panels 50, 51 to remain in erect vertical condition, wherein all forces exerted upon them and the front panels 48, 49 and rear panel 52 will be directly in compression, which the fibrous material from which the wall element 12 is formed is Well adapted to withstand.

The device is unloaded and collapsed by reversing the procedure described above, to return the same to the condition shown in FIGURE 1.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A collapsible reusable shipping container comprising: a pallet element, a collapsible wall element interconnected to said pallet element, and a cover element overlying and selectively engageable with said wall element; said pallet element including a floor member, skid members secured to a lower surface thereof, and a peripheral wall mounting member secured in indented relation upon an upper surface thereof; said wall element being formed of a unitary blank of bendable fibrous material, bounded by upper and lower edges, and being permanently interconnected along a portion of said lower edge to a part of said mounting member, and selectively interconnectable along the remaining portions of said lower edge thereto; said cover element including an upper wall and peripheral side walls selectively engageable upon said wall element in erected condition, and alternately at least partially enclosing said pallet and wall elements.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including a front door member disposed in sliding relation with respect to said wall element, said door member being main tained in selective closed position by the engagement of said cover element with said wall element.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including cooperating means on said wall and cover elements for securing the same in fixed mutual relation, said last mentioned means including a loop-forming member on said wall element penetrating a correspondingly located opening in said cover element and means selectively engageable with that portion of said loop-forming member projecting through said opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,026,015 3/1962 Severn. 3,185,379 5/1965 Kohlhaas. 3,291,364 12/1966 Fischer 229-6 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 2296, 41 

